The Takes It Took: A Movie Podcast

They spilled First Blood! Not Miles! On today’s episode Stephan leads us through the difficult production of this principle entry into the RAMBO franchise. There’s plenty of failed stunts, injuries, creative disputes, and would-be Rambo’s you could shake a rat at! Tune in to find out why it's usually a good idea to think through your stunts before doing them, and what the original fate of Rambo wa...

We're in! Discover the truth with this brand new, green, karate, sunglasses wearing episode! Miles leads the group on a journey through the development and mind boggling production of this Sci-Fi classic. Can you put a camera on a rocket? Can you shoot your actors? How do you film in reflections? ARE we in a simulation? Listen and find out! Want to support our show? Check out our Patreon at ⁠patre...

Inconceivable ! A new podcast episode just for you, and today Moriah's taking a look at the making of The Princess Bride. From William Goldman's book to Rob Reiner's directing, this production is not short on mishaps, mischief, and ROUSes. If you want to learn more about Westley's broken toe, Andre the Giant's drinking and farting, and who Miracle Max is based off of, this is t...

Get your bananas and beat your chest for this seminal 2001 classic! Dive into this Tim Burton reboot and uncover one of the most tumultuous and difficult development’s of any movie we've covered thus far! What do you mean Oliver Stone was going to direct? Apes playing baseball? On-set accidents? I thought this was just a dumb ape movie with Paul Giamatti! Dear listeners, tune-in and find out! Want...

Hold onto you leashes because we're jumping into the cat-astrophe that is the 2001 movie Cats and Dogs . This animation/animatronic/puppeteered animal movie is something of a bit of a mess, but we're getting into this ruff production and going over how it got made. If you've ever been curious how they achieved this technical masterpiece, listen now. Want to support our show? Check out...

Podcasts are like a box of chocolates... You never know what you're gonna get. Except today you do, because we are covering the 1994 film Forrest Gump ! We talk about the making of this movie, from the novel which features Forrest in space with an orangutan to the on-set magic of creating Vietnam in South Carolina. If you want to hear how Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks brought this story to lif...

Get to that helicopter please! For this week we are discussing the 1987 alien powerhouse THE PREDATOR. A staple in cinema sci-fi that had many hurdles to overcome. Join us in this production of macho men, cumbersome costumes, bicep competitions, hot jungles, and above all else; MACHO MEN. Tune in to hear it all! Want to support our show? Check out our Patreon at patreon.com/thetakesittook Make sur...

Get your mutton now! For today’s episode we celebrate one of the oldest sports, and the movie that celebrates it: A Knight’s Tale! Miles leads the group on a journey through the medieval ages, and through a sport that is surprisingly well represented in this movie. Listen to find out the interesting reason why the filmmakers chose to use modern music, and just how FUN jousting really was. What’s m...

Settle into your swamp for today's episode about the hit 2001 animated film Shrek ! We're talking about the LOOOONNNGGGG production of this classic which took nearly five years before the ogre we all know and love hit screens. We'll talk about failed animation tests, Chris Farley, animators being "Shrek'd", and how the legacy of this goofy animated movie has lasted so lon...

It’s partly cloudy in Los Angeles, and it’s a Sunday once again! In honor of David Lynch, Stephan leads Moriah and Miles hand-in-hand down the VERY ambiguous, oozing, and dream-like path of ERASERHEAD. Tune in to learn more about the ingredients to make your own David Lynch, how NOT to fund your movie, and the true horrors of Philadelphia! Make sure to follow us on social media! You can find us on...

A long time ago... In a galaxy far, far away... We talked about the sixth Star Wars film! Miles wraps up covering the original Star Wars trilogy with Return of the Jedi and all about the making of this sci-fi staple. We talk about the ewoks, we talk about stop-motion, miniatures, funny-named aliens, and how this film has stood the test of time! If you like Star Wars and want to know more about the...

Follow the yellow brick road with us today as we learn about the disaster that was the making of The Wizard of Oz . Moriah tells Miles and Stephan of the third-degree burns, cigarette diets, hanging munchkins, and heat stroke that accompanied this 1939 production. Despite its rocky production, it remains one of the most iconic films of all time, so give a listen to learn more about this classic! M...

Welcome to the New Year! For 2025 Stephan has vowed to focus on more films with troubled productions, and he's off to a good start with this episode. Have a listen to find out why accident insurance exists, how NOT to kill a film, and an author who thinks the fist is mightier than the pen. Moriah and Miles will be there to, of course. Make sure to follow us on social media! You can find us on...

Happy Holidays! As per our tradition here, today's episode is recapping everything Miles, Stephan, and Moriah watched this year. We're giving out the Tookies (our version of the Oscars) to some films we've seen, like the most surprising film, the goofiest, best outfit, and best cinematography, and favorite film. Listen now to hear what we've seen and comment what you've enjoyed watching this year!...

Set your booby traps, get your tarantulas out, ice down the steps, and get ready to learn about the filmmaking behind Home Alone ! Miles tells us all about the rocky production of this Christmas classic and how Macaulay Culkin and the cast/crew were able to pull off the film we all know and love. Listen now to learn about film sets in swimming pools, stuntmen taking one for the team, and if CPS sh...

Come in and know us better, man! We're kicking off the Christmas season as Moriah tells us all about the making of The Muppet Christmas Carol ! Listen to learn about how faithful an adaptation it is, how Michael Caine acted opposite Kermit, and how the Muppets made their first film without Jim Henson. Make sure to follow us on social media! You can find us on Instagram @thetakesittook. Got a quest...

Stop here, this is podcast country! For this weeks episode, Stephan selected this Terry Gilliam classic based on Hunter S. Thompson's book of the same name. Tune in if you want to know more about this film's 20 year long production hell, Johnny Depp's shaved head, and the most absurd and gonzo person to walk the planet: Hunter S. Thompson. Make sure to follow us on social media! You can find us on...

To wrap up our Halloween season, Miles takes us through the making of the spooky classic, The Invisible Man ! Filmed in 1933, this movie is full of clever practical and visual effects, from objects on wires to creating black voids for the invisible man's invisible-ness. If you want to learn more about classic Hollywood horror techniques and the making of this movie, give it a listen now! Make sure...

It puts the podcast on or it gets the hose again. Today we're talking about the making of the 1991 horror classic The Silence of the Lambs ! Moriah walks us through how Jonathan Demme and his team brought the literary character Hannibal Lecter to life, from Thomas Harris' book to the big screen. Listen now to find out how Anthony Hopkins carefully crafted his performance, learn about the real life...

Come with us if you want to learn movie magic! In this episode Stephan leads us through the humble beginning of The Terminator as it was revealed to James Cameron in a dream. Tune-in to hear who might have played The Terminator in another universe, Kyle Reese’s robot dog, and the amazingly simple special effects techniques that made this movie! Make sure to follow us on social media! You can find...

All aboard! This week’s expedition takes us deep into the heart of the Earth to find 2001’s ATLANTIS! Join us for another episode with Wesley and a foray into an amazing era in Disney animation. Tune in to hear about 2D and 3D animation hybrid, a REAL language made for the film, deleted scenes, and one of the most ambitious shots in Disney history! Make sure to follow us on social media! You can f...

I'll have what she's having in today's episode all about When Harry Met Sally... Moriah leads today's conversation about the making of this rom com classic, from Nora Ephron's long writing process to Rob Reiner and Billy Crystal's improv on set. If you want to learn more about this movie, click now and give it a listen! Make sure to follow us on social media! You can find u...

Wanna bet on this? Stephan leads this episode on 2019’s electrifying UNCUT GEMS. Take a dive into the beginnings of the directing duo that is the Safdie Brothers, the 10 year endeavor to cast Adam Sandler, the beautiful chaos of the cast, rocks, basketball, fish, and high anxiety!  Make sure to follow us on social media! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @thetakesittook. Got a question, com...

For today's episode, we're not just covering one film, but THREE as Miles leads us through Ralph's Bakshi's first three adult-oriented animated films. In the 1970s, Bakshi brought out a new style of animation that challenged what many had understood the medium to be. With Fritz the Cat , he created one of the most successful independent feature films of all time. With Heavy Traffic...

Buckle up, fire up the lights, and get ready for today's episode on Edgar Wright's 2007 film Hot Fuzz ! Moriah takes us through the making of this film and how Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg spent over a year coming up with the minute details of the town of Sandford and its townsfolk. On top of the screenwriting, we've got blood, guns, and action movie cliches every which way you look, an...